Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the processing of a particulate material, the apparatus comprising: a processing chamber having one or more inlets for admitting particulate material to be processed and one or more outlets for processed particulate material; the processing chamber comprising an annular treatment zone and a plurality of processing fluid inlets arranged in a base of said annular treatment zone and configured so that, in use, jets of processing fluid pass into the annular treatment zone through the plurality of processing fluid inlets to establish a spiral flow of particulate material in the annular processing zone; wherein said one or more outlets for processed particulate material are located in the base of said annular treatment zone and surrounded by said plurality of processing fluid inlets so that the spiral flow of particulate material circulates around said one or more outlets; the processing chamber further comprising means for deflecting a portion of the spiral flow o

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for the processing of a particulate material, the apparatus comprising: a processing chamber having one or more inlets for admitting particulate material to be processed and one or more outlets for processed particulate material; the processing chamber comprising an annular treatment zone and a plurality of processing fluid inlets arranged in a base of said annular treatment zone and configured so that, in use, jets of processing fluid pass into the annular treatment zone through the plurality of processing fluid inlets to establish a spiral flow of particulate material in the annular processing zone; wherein said one or more outlets for processed particulate material are located in the base of said annular treatment zone and surrounded by said plurality of processing fluid inlets so that the spiral flow of particulate material circulates around said one or more outlets; the processing chamber further comprising means for deflecting a portion of the spiral flow o

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the torrefaction of a biomass feedstock for the production of a biofuel, the process comprising: (i) torrefaction of a biomass feedstock in a toroidal bed reactor, wherein the toroidal bed reactor comprises a reaction chamber with a substantially circumferentially directed flow of fluid generated therein to cause the biomass feedstock to circulate rapidly about an axis of the reaction chamber in a toroidal band, and to heat the biomass feedstock, wherein the fluid comprises gas or gases introduced into the reaction chamber and wherein the chamber is maintained under an oxygen-depleted atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of processing a fluid and/or a particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the particulate material into a chamber; (b) providing a flow of fluid into said chamber for entraining the particulate material; and (c) removing processed fluid and/or particulate material from the chamber; wherein the chamber comprises a processing zone having a substantially circular transverse cross-section, the fluid flow being introduced into the processing zone at an angle of between 10° and 75° with respect to a tangent of the substantially circular transverse cross-section of the processing zone to establish a fluid flow following a substantially helical path in the processing chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and a method for exothermic treatment of feed material to provide an ash. The apparatus includes a housing extending about a central axis and having first and second ends, and a central mixing zone adjacent the first end. A material intake carries the feed material into the housing and gas enters through a first gas inlet at the first end through guides to create an inner vortex extending axially about said axis and the gas then follows an outer vortex which also extends axially but in the opposite direction from that of the inner vortex. However the inner and outer vortices rotate in the same direction. A gas outlet is positioned to receive spent gas from the housing and an ash outlet is positioned remotely from the mixing zone to receive the ash. If preferred, the position of the ash outlet may be incorporated into the gas outlet. A control system is provided to limit the temperature in the feed material in the housing.

Abstract: A method of processing a fluid and/or a particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the particulate material into a chamber; (b) providing a flow of fluid into said chamber for entraining the particulate material; and (c) removing processed fluid and/or particulate material from the chamber; wherein the chamber comprises a processing zone having a substantially circular transverse cross-section, the fluid flow being introduced into the processing zone at an angle of between 10° and 75° with respect to a tangent of the substantially circular transverse cross-section of the processing zone to establish a fluid flow following a substantially helical path in the processing chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for bringing particulate material into contact with a moving fluid in an annular processing zone to create processed material. The zone has a base and the process includes generating a circumferentially directed flow of gas in the zone to develop a circumferentially circulating turbulent bed of particulate material within the processing zone. Particulate material is supplied to the processing zone so that the particulate material is circulated in the processing zone to provide a predictable particle flow path both circumferential of the processing zone and helically of the zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for treating a particulate material, in which particles of the material to be treated interact with non-static particles of a second material, the process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a processing chamber (1) having an inlet (7) and an outlet (10) spaced downstream therefrom, the base (15) of said chamber comprising a plurality of outwardly radiating inclined vanes (20, 25), (ii) providing a host bed of particles (30) which include inert particles, alumina, limestone and activated carbon in the chamber (1) and generating a flow of fluid through the vanes (20, 25) at the base (15) of the processing chamber such that the bed of host particles (30) circulates about an axis of the chamber in a compact band, (iii) injecting particles of the material to be treated including sulphide ore, kaolin, gypsum and talc through an inlet (5) of the chamber (1) to contact with the circulating bed of the host particles (30), wherein the relative terminal velocity of the partic

Abstract: There is described a furnace of the kind in which a toroidal fluid flow heating zone may be established. The furnace includes a chamber (7a) in which there is provided an inner block and a ring of angled blades (21) between the inner block and an inner wall of the chamber (7a). Means (4a) is provided for delivering fluid into the chamber in such a way that the fluid passes through gaps between the blades and establishes a toroidal fluid flow heating zone in the chamber above the ring of angled blades. Means (23) is also provided for injecting feed particulate material into the chamber in a region where the toroidal fluid flow heating zone is to be established. In one arrangement, means (49) is additionally provided for injecting fuel into the chamber in a region above the ring of angled blades so that the region in the chamber at which the heating zone is established is elevated above the ring of angled blades. In another arrangement, means (33) is provided for cooling the inner block.

Abstract: In a process for processing particulate material with a stream of fluid in an annular processing zone, which includes the steps of supplying the particulate material for processing in the zone, discharging processed material from the zone and generating in the zone a circumferentially directed flow of fluid to develop a circulating turbulent band of particles, an improvement to the processing zone which provides a predictable particle flow path both circumferentially and helically of the zone. The improvement comprises directing the flow of fluid to develop a circulating bed with inner bed depth and outer bed depth, a flow of fluid directed at an angle relative to the processing zone base and controlling fluid velocity so that it is greater than the terminal velocity of larger particles point of impact on the bed base and less than the terminal velocity of smaller particles in the superficial space above the bed upper surface.

Abstract: Matter to be treated is passed through at least two treating regions sequentially wherein a bed of the matter is moved in a band continuously along an annular path by passing fluid through the bed along the path. The annular paths of the regions are concentric.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for subjecting matter to fluid flow. The apparatus comprises a chamber (10) having an annular fluid inlet (14) beneath a first annular region (22) in the chamber. A second annular region (24) is contiguous with and disposed outwardly of the region (22) between the region (22) and a circumferential wall (12), which has a slope (18) towards the annular inlet (14). Means shown as an annular array of radially extending slots provided in an annular wall portion (FIG. 3) direct fluid through the inlet (14) with vertical and circumferential flow components. In use matter in the chamber is moved in a band continuously along an annular path in the regions. (22, 24). The matter is moved vertically and circumferentially while in the region (22) by the flow therein, is moved out of this flow into region (24) by circumferential force and is directed back into the region (22) by the slope (18) as indicated by arrows (30).

Abstract: A bed 26 of particulate material is moved in a band continuously along an annular path by passing fluid media having both circumferential and vertical components through the bed along that path. The fluid media comprises combustion gases which are passed through the bed along a portion of the path for heating the particulate material as it passes therethrough and fluid matter to be heated which passes through the bed along another portion of its path such that the fluid matter is heated as it passes through the particulate material which has been heated by the combustion gases.